INCHYDONEY ISLAND, CORK

INCHYDONEY ISLAND

Like the bow of a ship heading off to sea, the headland at Inchydoney Island in Co. Cork is a natural draw for visitors. Open to the public, but on private lands, challenges with liability and land management began to arise as visitor numbers increased. The native dune system all but disappeared, the earth became compacted, denuding the headland and creating dangerous runoff channels and the adjacent SAC habitat appeared to be receding. As a determined landowner, The Inchydoney Lodge & Spa wanted to find a way to ensure it remained a public open space.

The result is a landscape led solution that emphasises regeneration of native Marram grass, significantly improved accessibility with minimal barriers, and landscape features where visitors can experience views of the sea, hear the waves and feel the wind. Key components include an amphitheatre built into the natural hillside, a cliffside viewing platform, a sculpture garden for local artists and informal seating nooks arising out of the reconstructed dunes. They are structural elements with multiple uses, left open to visitor interpretation.